free

adjective (freer /ˈfrēər/, freest /ˈfrēəst/)

• 1not under the control or in the power of another; able to act or be done as one wishes:I have no ambitions other than to have a happy life and be free a free choice
• (of a state or its citizens or institutions) subject neither to foreign domination nor to despotic government:a free press
• [often as complement] not or no longer confined or imprisoned:the researchers set the birds free
• historical not a slave.
• [with infinitive] able or permitted to take a specified action:you are free to leave
• [in names] denoting an ethnic or political group actively opposing an occupying or invading force, in particular the groups that continued resisting the Germans in World War II after the fall of their countries. See also Free French.

• 2 [often as complement] not physically restrained, obstructed, or fixed; unimpeded:she lifted the cat free
• Physics (of power or energy) disengaged or available. See also free energy.
• Physics & Chemistry not bound in an atom, a molecule, or a compound:the atmosphere of that time contained virtually no free oxygenSee also free radical.
• Linguistics (of a morpheme) able to occur in isolation.

• 3not subject to or constrained by engagements or obligations:she spent her free time shopping
• (of a facility or piece of equipment) not occupied or in use:the bathroom was free

• 4 [predic.] (free of/from) not subject to or affected by (a specified thing, typically an undesirable one):membership is free of charge

• 5given or available without charge:free health care

• 6using or expending something without restraint; lavish:she was always free with her money
• frank or unrestrained in speech, expression, or action:he was free in his talk of revolution
• archaic overfamiliar or forward in manner.

• 7(of a literary style) not observing the strict laws of form.
• (of a translation) conveying only the broad sense; not literal.

• 8 Sailing (of the wind) blowing from a favorable direction to the side or stern of a vessel.

adverb

• 1without cost or payment:ladies were admitted free

• 2 Sailing with the sheets eased.

verb (frees, freed, freeing)

• release from captivity, confinement, or slavery:they were freed from jail
• release from physical obstruction, restraint, or entanglement:I had to tug hard and at last freed him
• remove something undesirable or restrictive from:his inheritance freed him from financial constraints free your mind and body of excess tension
• make available for a particular purpose:this will free up funds for development elsewhere